American contemporary Buddhist artist James Stanford’s highly acclaimed “Shimmering Zen” exhibition will travel from London to The Studio at Sahara West Library on September 21, and will continue through November 24, 2018. “Shimmering Zen” premiered at the 20th Anniversary of Asia Art in London, the global hub of Asian contemporary art and antiquities featuring over sixty of the world’s top dealers, major auction houses, and museums for an annual ten-day celebration of the finest in Asian art.
As a leading maker of contemporary mandalas, Stanford’s work is an interpretation of the ancient traditions of Buddhism, drawing from historic metaphor, Chinese fables, and the aesthetics of the Tibetan Mandala. Born and raised in Nevada, he was inspired to create after a transformative and spiritual moment at the Prado Museum in Madrid when he was a young man. This opened his mind to a higher consciousness
Stanford’s Indra’s Jewels series—digitally-created kaleidoscopic illustrations of classic Vegas signs, receding to infinity—are at once sentimental and futuristic, a tribute to his love of city and connection to Zen Buddhism. And they’re indescribably beautiful. jamesstanfordart.com.
As a child, James Stanford had little experience with fine art. He was born in Las Vegas in 1948, 13 years after gambling was legalized in the city, and three years before the U.S. Government began testing nuclear bombs in the surrounding desert. The fledgling City of Sin boasted plenty of risks at that time, and plenty of distractions, but one thing it did not offer was an art museum. In fact, the first museum Stanford ever visited was the Prado, in Madrid, Spain, at age 20. He recalls that visit as his first experience ever with fine art, and says that it was a personal religious experience. Stanford describes standing in front of a painting called “Deposition,” by the 15th Century, Netherlandish Mannerist painter Rogier van der Weyden, and admiring the intricate technique the artist had used to outline the figures in the painting, which made them seem to float outward from the rest of the scene.
James Stanford is an American photographer, painter, drawer, digital illustrator, and small press publisher based out of a rather unlikely location: Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to bringing fine arts to a hometown more often known for its lowbrow entertainment, Mr. Stanford has had an equally surprising career. Formally educated with an MFA in painting, Stanford has found himself engaged in all sorts of creative endeavors including his most recent work “Shimmering Zen” project, which utilizes layering and lenticular printing to create gorgeous, eye-popping mosaics out of derelict Las Vegas signs, a process described by the HuffPost as “not an endeavour anyone else has particularly mastered.”
L’Vegue is growing…2 years and 5 months old to be exact. So, for this Winter issue, we introduce new staff members and writers that have joined our team as well as fabulous new images! We are pleased to bring you one of the great institutions in American Museums; Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens.
Vintage Las Vegas Neon signs make Modern Mandalas in James Stanford’s new book, Shimmering Zen
Shimmering Zen is a compilation of 150 of Stanford’s works created over the last fifteen years published in large hardback format. Composed of digital photos of historic Las Vegas neon signage and architectural elements found in the 1950s and 1960s, and shot in the Mojave Desert, Stanford artfully creates mesmerizing designs using newly developed purpose specific technology.
Stanford’s group of intriguing digital montages convey and respond to the potency of the mandala as a symbol, and it’s influence and importance to Asian culture worldwide.
The artist’s process is spiritual as much as it is artistic. Informed by the practices and beliefs of Zen Buddhism, Stanford believes his work really came to life with his spiritual practice and the seminal influence of his Las Vegas upbringing.
How to approach a mandala:
– Is all about not knowing how to view a mandala, but viewing it anyway
– Apprehend the mandala lightly, like you are holding a butterfly
– Attitude is everything when viewing a ‘jewel of Indra’
– If you are grasping or impatient, you are killing the experience
– Breathe in and out. Attend to your breath
– we enter the realm of the mandala with our eyes floating on the wind of our breath
– Pure awareness – that is what our consciousness is
– Dont’ know’ is the only mindset. See where wonderment takes you
– We are the universe’s way of knowing itself
Decoration has soul. While it’s focused on the surface of things, its purpose is to elevate, to embellish the physical and, on some level, the spiritual qualities of whatever it is adorning.
Artist James Stanford creates decorative art by repurposing vintage decorative neon signs found in Las Vegas.
His edition photomontage series, “Indra’s Jewels,” includes a group of digitally reinvented mosaics of patterns that are at once decorative and contemplative. The vibrant images are reminiscent of physics-like models of space, but also have an immaterial, spiritual quality, evoking the artist’s strong connection to Zen Buddhism.
James Stanford is a digital artist based in Las Vegas who creates digital montages that convey and respond to the potency of the mandala, the traditional Buddhist symbol.
Composed of digital photos of historic Las Vegas neon signage and architectural elements from the 1950s and1960s, and shot in the Mojave Desert, Stanford artfully creates mesmerizing designs using newly developed purpose specific technology. Using digital layering and mirroring of one single image he creates kaleidoscopic works that are rich with the nostalgic architecture and glamour of Las Vegas’ heyday. James Stanford was also a pioneer of digital art creation, his design team actually being the first people to ever use a Mac in Las Vegas.
Stanford’s new publication, Shimmering Zen is a compilation of 150 of Stanford’s works created over the last fifteen years published in a large hardback format and offers an insight into Stanford’s creative process and inspiration allied with original images of the signs, and accompanied by nostalgic tales of his Las Vegas life, including being on the set of Viva Las Vegas with Elvis Presley and Anne-Margaret.
Los Angeles artist James Stanford presents Shimmering Zen, an extraordinary new exhibition of Contemporary Buddhist art, featuring modern mandalas.Using historic Las Vegas neon signage and architectural elements from the 1950s and 1960s, shot in the Mojave Desert, Stanford artfully creates digital montages, mesmerizing designs using unique newly developed purpose specific technology. Stanford’s group of intriguing digital reconfigurations convey and respond to the potency of the mandala as a symbol, and its influence and importance to Asian culture worldwide.
James Stanford’s diverse practice includes photography, digital illustration, painting, and drawing. Stanford studied painting at the University of Washington (UW) (MFA) and the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) (BFA). Dedicated to creativity and the fine arts, he has taught at UNLV and UW, established the Smallworks Gallery, and curated exhibitions at various venues, including the Las Vegas Contemporary Arts Center.
American artist James Stanford presents Shimmering Zen, an extraordinary new exhibition of Contemporary Buddhist art, featuring modern mandalas that premieres as part of Asian Art in London 2017 week, opening at 99 Kensington Church Street on Thursday 2 November through Saturday 11 November.
Using historic Las Vegas neon signage and architectural elements from the 1950s and 1960s, shot in the Mojave Desert, Stanford artfully creates digital montages, mesmerizing designs using unique newly developed purpose specific technology. Stanford’s group of intriguing digital reconfigurations convey and respond to the potency of the mandala as a symbol, and its influence and importance to Asian culture worldwide.
